Need advice - Switching from Black Boxes to T5s

[tehmadreefer]

I have my tank plumbed into my garage and luckily have not passed 80 degrees for over a year. Hopefully I would not have to use a chiller. That would be a deal breaker if so.

I live in south Florida and my tank does run about 81-82 consistently with my a/c at 73. I don’t run a chiller or heater in “winter”. Haha

 

[JCOLE]

Ok. About to pull the trigger on this. I replaced the diodes on my black boxes and they now have a better spectrum. I just feel I could get more out of my tank by going all T5's. About to pull the trigger on 2 more LET T5 Retrofit kits to give me a total of 8 T5's. I dont know if I can throw 8 in my canopy.

Could I get away with 6 for a 6' Acro dominate tank at 27" deep?

I don't want an overly 20k blue color. Looking more around the 12-14k look.

What do you think about this bulb combo? If I could get away with 6 then I would probably take away a blue+ and a coral+

Blue+
Actinic
Blue+
Coral+
Blue+
Coral+
Actinic
Blue+

 

[X-37B]

6 or 8 run 50% b+ & c+.
I ran 6 then 8 on my 24" deep 120 4" off the surface. I ran actinic but liked the 50/50 better. I changed to MH a month ago.

 

[Bpb]

Ok. About to pull the trigger on this. I replaced the diodes on my black boxes and they now have a better spectrum. I just feel I could get more out of my tank by going all T5's. About to pull the trigger on 2 more LET T5 Retrofit kits to give me a total of 8 T5's. I dont know if I can throw 8 in my canopy.

Could I get away with 6 for a 6' Acro dominate tank at 27" deep?

I don't want an overly 20k blue color. Looking more around the 12-14k look.

What do you think about this bulb combo? If I could get away with 6 then I would probably take away a blue+ and a coral+

Blue+
Actinic
Blue+
Coral+
Blue+
Coral+
Actinic
Blue+

that will definitely not look 12k. That will be very very blue. youll need to run 50/50
Blue+ and coral+ to get down to about 14k

 

[JCOLE]

6 or 8 run 50% b+ & c+.
I ran 6 then 8 on my 24" deep 120 4" off the surface. I ran actinic but liked the 50/50 better. I changed to MH a month ago.

Do you know what your PAR was around 6" near the bottom?

 

[X-37B]

Do you know what your PAR was around 6" near the bottom?

No never measured it but here is a few pics of the bottom.
I could grow just about anything on the bottom.
The top of my scape is maxed out at 8" for reference.

 

[Chibils]

If you want a 12K look, you're not going to like that much Blue+. Try replacing one of them with an Aquablue Special (more neutral/10K than the Coral+, despite the name). Check out the video at the bottom of this page to see what different bulbs and combinations look like. The Aquablue Special looks bad on its own imho but great in tandem with Blue+ and Coral+.

 

[Bpb]

4 blue+
2 true actinic
2 - 6500k

would do the trick. I ran that combo for a while and loved the way it looked

 

[JCOLE]

If you want a 12K look, you're not going to like that much Blue+. Try replacing one of them with an Aquablue Special (more neutral/10K than the Coral+, despite the name). Check out the video at the bottom of this page to see what different bulbs and combinations look like. The Aquablue Special looks bad on its own imho but great in tandem with Blue+ and Coral+.

I will ake a look into that. You're right. I never liked the look of them by themselves. I can see that they would complement Blue+ though.

 

[JCOLE]

4 blue+
2 true actinic
2 - 6500k

would do the trick. I ran that combo for a while and loved the way it looked

Did you see an issue with algae growth with the 6500k bulbs?

Also, would 6 bulbs give enough PAR for my tank? I don't know if I can squeeze in 8 bulbs in my canopy.

 

[Bpb]

Did you see an issue with algae growth with the 6500k bulbs?

Also, would 6 bulbs give enough PAR for my tank? I don't know if I can squeeze in 8 bulbs in my canopy.

Six would get it done on the top end under the bulbs. Par meter will be helpful in mapping the most appropriate place for various different things. I never did really have any algae issues even when I ran

3-6500k
1 purple+
1 actinic
3 blue+

 

[JCOLE]

Six would get it done on the top end under the bulbs. Par meter will be helpful in mapping the most appropriate place for various different things. I never did really have any algae issues even when I ran

3-6500k
1 purple+
1 actinic
3 blue+

I need to probably rethink this if I can only put in 6 bulbs. I do have a concern of too much PAR though. I currently have 4 black boxes and 2 80w Blue+ bulbs. I found after confirming PAR with a Seneye that I was causing photoinhibition with over 1500+ PAR at the top of my rocks. I lowered blues from 100% down to 36% and Whites from 80% down to 26%. I am getting around 650+ at the tops and 250+ near the bottom.

Ever since lowering the PAR my pieces are getting much better growth and color. A little concerned that 8 bulbs could cause photoinhibition again. Maybe not?

 

[Bpb]

I need to probably rethink this if I can only put in 6 bulbs. I do have a concern of too much PAR though. I currently have 4 black boxes and 2 80w Blue+ bulbs. I found after confirming PAR with a Seneye that I was causing photoinhibition with over 1500+ PAR at the top of my rocks. I lowered blues from 100% down to 36% and Whites from 80% down to 26%. I am getting around 650+ at the tops and 250+ near the bottom.

Ever since lowering the PAR my pieces are getting much better growth and color. A little concerned that 8 bulbs could cause photoinhibition again. Maybe not?

Maybe maybe not. Black boxes are like little lasers. They throw so much par in a small area.

 

[JCOLE]

Maybe maybe not. Black boxes are like little lasers. They throw so much par in a small area.

Just measured and turns out the tank is 24" deep and not 27". Also it is 18" wide so it appears 6 would be the only option.

Thinking about 3-blue+, 2 - coral+, 1-actinic

Do you think that would give enough PAR for Acro's down to the bottom?

 

[X-37B]

Just measured and turns out the tank is 24" deep and not 27". Also it is 18" wide so it appears 6 would be the only option.

Thinking about 3-blue+, 2 - coral+, 1-actinic

Do you think that would give enough PAR for Acro's down to the bottom?

Plenty of photon power.
Check out Big E's threads on T5's that should convince you.

 

[JCOLE]

I just turned off all the LEDs and left the 2-80W Blue+ bulbs on. I was getting around 100 PAR about 5" from the bottom. Pretty bad on the sides around 30 PAR. In theory if I am getting 100 PAR with two bulbs then should I get 300 PAR by adding 4 more bulbs?

 

[Bpb]

I just turned off all the LEDs and left the 2-80W Blue+ bulbs on. I was getting around 100 PAR about 5" from the bottom. Pretty bad on the sides around 30 PAR. In theory if I am getting 100 PAR with two bulbs then should I get 300 PAR by adding 4 more bulbs?

I am not sure the math works additively in a linear fashion like that but I think six will do the trick for you based on those dimensions. It’s what I would personally do in your shoes anyway

 

[JCOLE]

I am not sure the math works additively in a linear fashion like that but I think six will do the trick for you based on those dimensions. It’s what I would personally do in your shoes anyway

Ok. Thank you for your help! I am going to go with 3 blue+ and 3 coral+ bulbs and see how everything does.

I am not doing bad with the black boxes. Honestly, I feel I have done very well considering the stigma surrounding them. I just want to go to a tried and true method with proper spectrum.